PORTALBE SENSOR APPARATUS WITH DETACHABLE SENSOR UNITS

• US 20110201382A1
• Filed: 05/07/2010
• Published: 08/18/2011
• Est. Priority Date: 02/12/2010
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Middleland Sensing Technology, Inc.
• Original Assignee: Middleland Sensing Technology, Inc.
• Inventors: HSIAO, Hsiung
• Application Number:
  US12/775,518
• Publication Number:
  US 20110201382A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 455/556.1
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2560/0443 Modular apparatus
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/0022 Monitoring a patient using a global network, e.g. telephone networks, internet
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/14532 for measuring glucose, e.g. by tissue impedance measurement
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/14542 for measuring blood gases A61B5/14551 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: G16H 40/67 for remote operation
• CPC Class Codes: H04Q 2209/30 using a wired architecture
• CPC Class Codes: H04Q 2209/82 where the sensing device takes the initiative of sending data
• CPC Class Codes: H04Q 9/00 Arrangements in telecontrol or telemetry systems for selectively calling a substation from a main station, in which substation desired apparatus is selected for applying a control signal thereto or for obtaining measured values therefrom

Abstract

An exemplary portable sensor apparatus with detachable and interchangeable sensor unit(s) connected through USB interface. The portable electronic device and the sensor unit(s) have pairing USB port and USB plug respectively, for facilitating digital signal transmission between the sensor unit(s) and the portable electronic device. The sensor unit(s) includes a sensor probe for real-time measuring or monitoring physical and/or chemical parameters of a target object, and an analog-to-digital (A/D) converter to convert the signals into digital ones. The portable electronic device includes a storage unit and a processing unit. The storage unit is for storing multiple programs and data for different sensing applications. The processing unit is for receiving digital signals, selecting an appropriate program from the storage unit, analyzing the digital signals by the selected program and thereby acquiring data from the measurement.

Claims

1. A portable sensor apparatus comprising:

a portable electronic device; and

a sensor unit, connected with the portable electronic device through a USB transmission interface, wherein the sensor unit comprises a sensor probe configured for measuring and/or monitoring physical and/or chemical parameters of a target object, the sensor unit generates digital signals according to the measured parameters and transmits the digital signals to the portable electronic device through the USB transmission interface;

wherein the portable electronic device comprises;

a storage unit, for storing a plurality of programs respectively used for different sensing applications; and

a processing unit, for receiving the digital signals, selecting one of the programs from the storage unit according to the digital signals and obtaining information of the target object by using the selected program.

2. The portable sensor apparatus as claimed in claim 1, wherein the portable electronic device further comprises a display unit configured for displaying data resulted from measurements.

3. The portable sensor apparatus as claimed in claim 1, wherein the portable electronic device further comprises a recognizing unit configured for recognizing the type of the sensor unit and then facilitating the processing unit to select one of the programs.

4. The portable sensor apparatus as claimed in claim 1, wherein the sensor unit is one of chemical sensors.

5. The portable sensor apparatus as claimed in claim 1, wherein the sensor unit further comprises an analog-to-digital converter configured for converting analog signals representative of the target object into digital signals.

6. The portable sensor apparatus as claimed in claim 1, wherein the portable electronic device is a mobile phone.

7. The portable sensor apparatus as claimed in claim 6, wherein the mobile phone has a global positioning system module, a camera module and a wireless communication module built therein.

8. The portable sensor apparatus as claimed in claim 1, wherein the USB transmission interface comprises a USB plug and a USB port.

9. The portable sensor apparatus as claimed in claim 8, wherein the USB transmission interface further comprises a USB cable.

10. A portable sensor apparatus comprising:

a portable electronic device; and

a sensor unit, detachably connected with the portable electronic device for electrical connection;

wherein the sensor unit is configured for producing signals representative of physical and/or chemical parameters of a target object and transmitting the signals to the portable electronic device, and the portable electronic device is configured for calling a particular program stored therein to process the signals and thereby acquiring information of the target object.

11. The portable sensor apparatus as claimed in claim 10, wherein the sensor unit is detachably and interchangeably connected with the portable electronic device by a USB transmission interface.